Kan proposes unity cabinet

Prime Minister
Naoto Kan
has invited the head of the largest opposition party in Japan to join his cabinet as the government stepped up efforts to build political support for its battle to contain the nation’s deepest postwar crisis.

Liberal Democratic Party head Sadakazu Tanigaki told reporters that Mr Kan had offered him the post of vice prime minister for earthquake reconstruction – an idea rejected by the LDP leadership.

Mr Kan also met with former leaders of his ruling party. He is asking other parties for co-operation, rather than a coalition, said his predecessor Yukio Hatoyama.
Ichiro Ozawa
, who was defeated last year in the race for leadership of the Democratic Party of Japan, and Seiji Maehara, who resigned as foreign minister this month, also attended the meeting.